Disk gang biasing means



Se t. 16, 1952 w. P. OEHLER ET AL 2,610,454

' DISK GANG BIASING MEANS 2 SHEETSrSHEET 1 Filed Aug. 28, 1948 INVENTORS.

r0 WILLIAM R OEHLER CHARLES H. YOUNGBERG Sept. 16, 1952 W. P. OEHLER ET AL DISK GANG BIASING MEANS Filed Aug. 28, 1 948 2 SHEETS SHEET 2 INVENTORS. WILLIAM P. OEHLER CHARLES H. YOUNGBERG Patented Sept. 16, 1952 DISK GANG BIASING MEANS I William P. Oehler and Charles H.,Youngberg,

Moline,

111., assignors to Deere & Company,

Moline, 111., a corporation of Illinois The present invention relates generally to agricultural implements and is more particularly concerned'with disk harrows, such as those of the-type shown in U. S. Patent 2,339,124, issued January 11, 1944, to Charles H. White.

The object and general nature of the present invention is the provision of new and improved spring means acting between the frame of the disk harrow and the two disk gangs movably connected with the frame so as to hold the outer ends.

of the gangs, when in operation, from being displaced upwardly due to the pressure of the soil against the-disks.

More specifically, it is'an important feature of this invention to provide new and improved upthrust resisting spring means which is simpler, and involves a smaller number'of parts and is less expensive to manufacture than the upthrust resisting spring means, shown in the above mentioned patent. I

Still further, another feature of the present invention is the provision of spring means acting between the disk gang and the frame of the harrow and so constructed and arrangedas to be effectively connected with the associated disk gang without the use of pins, cotters or the like, and furthermore, it is an additional feature of this invention to provide a simple connection between the upthrust resisting spring unit and the harrow frame which involves only one bracket fixedly connected to the harrow frame.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art after a consideration of the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: I i a Figure 1 is a perspective view of the rear portion of a disk harrow in which the-principles of the present invention have beenincorporated, one of the spring upthrust resisting units being shown in the position it occupies during the process of connecting the same between the associated disk gang and the frame. Y

v Figure 2 is a partial plan View of the preferred form of upthrust resisting spring'means.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figures 4-6, inclusive, are detail views of the spring bracketwhich connects'each of the spring units to the harrow frame.

Referring now to the drawings, the disk harrow is shown in Figure 1 as including amain frame I and a pair of right and left hand disk gangs 2 and 3. Themain frame 1 comprises which at their rear ends Application August 28, 1948, Serial No. 46,686

' 3Giaims. (or. 55-81) generally fore and aft extending bars 5 and 6 terminate in downwardly extending bearing-receiving portions 1 and 8. Each of the latter portions is connected into a bearing structure ll carried at the inner end of each of the disk gangs 2 and 3. The main frame. i also includes a pair of cross bars l3 and I4 connected, as by welding, at their outer ends to the frame bars 5 and B and having overlapping portions at their inner ends, which are apertured, as indicated by the reference numeral l6. 1

Each of the disk gangs 2 and 3 includes a gang frame l8 which is made up of fore and aft spaced transverse 'anglegmembers l9 and 2|, the inner and outer ends of which are provided with suitable yokes or supports and. associated bearingmeans whereby each gang frameis carried by the associated disk gang and niovedthrewith relative to the main frame I either-in a fore and aft direction about a generally vertical axis or in an up and down direction about generally fore and aft extending axes. The bearing means ii and associated parts accommodate the aforesaid.

action. The inner ends of the frame bars I9 and 2| are interconnected by means of an arched brace member 23 secured, as by bolts, to the main frame. The central portion of each of the gang braces 23 is provided with an aperture 24 which pivotally receives the associated upthrust resisting spring unit, one of which is connected between each of the braces 23 and the associated frame I.

Each of the upthrust resisting spring units is indicated by the reference numeral 30 and comprises a spring rod 3! pivotally connected at its outer end to the'associated gang frame brace 23 and slidably and pivotally connected at its inner end with an associated connecting bracket 33 that is fastened rigidly to the frame by one of the bolts 34 which extends through registering openings in the main frame cross bars i3 and id for holding them in different positions of lateral adjustment. 1

The outer end of each of the rods 3| is specially formed to provide for quick attachment and deachment. The outer end of each of the rods 3| is formed with an enlarged portion 35 which carries a reduced brace-engaging neck portion. 51 which is adapted to be disposed in the aperture 24 in the associated brace 23. The neck 3| is easilyand quickly connected with the associated brace 23 merely by first inserting the hook-like portion 38 down through the opening 24, with the rod 3| held at an angle, until the neck portion 3'! lies in the opening 24, after which the rod 3| may be brought down into its normally generally horizontal position with the abutment shoulder 39 engaging the upper face of the brace 23 and the lower hook-like portion 38 engaging the lower face of the brace 23, whereby the rod 3! cannot be disengaged from its brace 23 so long as the rod 3| remains in a substantially horizontal position. The rod 3! is adapted to pivot in a generally fore and aft direction relative to the associated gang frame and the fit between the neck portion 31 and the opening 24 is such that the rod 31 may also swing up and down relative to the brace 23 to a limited extent.

The generally central. portion of each of the spring rods 3| is screw threaded, as shown at 4!, and receives a pair oflock nuts 42 against which a spring collar 43isadapted to bear. The outer face ofthe collar 43 is-formed so as to receive one end of a spring 45 which is adapted to be disposed about the'inner end portion of the rod 3|. The other end of the spring 45 is adapted to bear against one leg of the spring bracket'33 which is carried by the main frame I.

As best shown in Figures 4-6, one leg'48 of the bracket 33 is formed with an aperture 5| therein to receive the associated bolt 34. This'legof the bracket also carries a pair of upper and lower lugs 52 and '53 which are adapted to overlie the upper and lower edges of the adjacent frame bar l3 so as to prevent the bracket from turning a relative to the harrow frame. When the bolt 34 is inserted through the opening El and the 'nut applied and tightenedthe bracket 33 becomes a fixed and rigid part of the harrow frame. However, if it should be desired to change the spacing between the disk gangs 2 and 3, it is a simple matter to take out the bolt 34 and reinsert the same into other holes in the transverse frame bars l3 and I4, reconnecting the bracket 33 as just described. y

The outer and spring rod receiving section or leg of the bracket 33 is indicated by the reference numeral 56 and is preferably formed integral with the leg 48. The leg 56 of the bracket 33 is provided at its opposite sides with an inner socket section 51 and an outer socket section 58, the wall 59 between said sections being provided with an elongated opening or slot 3|. The rod 3i outwardly of the threaded portion 4! is flattened on its upper and lower sides, as shown at 62 and 63, and this portion is s'lidab lydisposed in theelongated bracket openingfil. The upper and lower sides of'the opening Bl are substantially fiat and cooperate with the fiat sides 62 and 63 of the rod 31-, thereby providing adequate bearing surface between the bracketand spring rod and thus eliminating all objectionable wear. The opening BI is tapered so as to accommodate both a fore and aft swinging movement of the rod 3| in the bracket as well as agenerally up and down. swinging movement of the rod relative to the bracket. The taper of the opening El is indicated'by the reference numeral 64. The outer or flattened end portion of each rod 3| extends through the elongated slot Bl a distance suificient toieceivea small cushioning spring 31 one end of which seats in thesocket 51 and the other end of which bears against a pair of lock nuts 68';' which are carried by the threaded portion at the outermost end of the rod 3|. The.

main thrust resisting action is performed by the larger spring 45 mentioned above. The innermost end of the spring 45 seats against the outer socket section 58 of the bracket leg 56, the socket section 58 being tapered and formed with a helical or spiral spring seat 69 shaped to conform to the end of the associated spring 45. The bracket 331s formed with the leg 56 extending at an angle to the bracket leg 48. This results in the associated spring 45 bearing with full and uniform pressure against the seat 69 when the harrow is'in its angled or working position.

At the outer end of each of the upthrust resisting springs 45 the associated collar 43 is also formed with a helical or spiral spring seat, and the member 43 is held in position by the lock nuts 42. Changing, the position of the lock nuts 42 along, the rod 3| serves to increase or decrease the tension exerted by the associated spring 45 when the harrow is in its normal working position.

While we have shown and described above the preferred structure in which the principles of the present invention have been incorporated, it is to be understood that our invention is not to be limited. to the particular details shown and described above, but that, in'fact, widely difierent means may be employed in the broader aspects of our invention.

What we claim, therefore, and cure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a disk narrow of the type including a desire to semain frame and a pair of disk gangs connected at their inner ends with said frame for movement relative thereto about generally horizontal -foreand aft extending and vertical axes, the improvement which comprises sprin means-for resisting upthrust at the outer endsof said gangs dueto soil pressure-against the disks, said means including an apertured bracket fixed to the inner end of each of said gangs, a spring ro'drfor connecting each bracket to said main frame and having at its outer end an abutment shoulder and a hook li-keend having a first portion extending axially of said abutment shoulder and a right angular portion, said hook-like end being adapted tobeinterengaged with the aperture in the associated bracket so that'said abutment shoulder engages the associated bracket atone side thereof and said, right angular portion extends through the aperture in said. bracket and lies against the other side thereof soas to serve to hold the rod engaged with the bracket'while accommodating rocking and pivotal movement of the gang relative to the rod, a pair of brackets fixed to said main frame, each of said last named brackets having an aperture adapted to receive the inner end oflthe associated spring rod, and a spring acting between each rod'and the associated main frame bracket;

2. In a diskharrow of'tlie type including a main frame and a pair'of disk" gangs connected at thei'r'inner ends with; said frame for. movement relative thereto about. generally horizontal fore and aft extendingand vertical'a'xes, the improvement which. comprises spring means for resisting'upthrust at the outer ends of said; gangs due to soil pressure againstthe disks, said spring means including an apertured bracket fixed. to the inner end of each oi-f'saidgangs, a spring rod for connecting each bracket to said" main frame and having at its outer end an abutment shoulder and a'hook -like end having a first por-' tion: extendin axially' ofsaid abutment shoulder and a right angular'portion, said hook-like end being adapted to be interengaged with the aperof each bracket including a laterally outwardly facing generally tapered part having a spirallike spring seat and a laterally inner tapered recessed part forming a spring-receiving socket, the laterally inner end of the associated rod extending through the associated aperture, a cushioning spring disposed about the inner end of said rod and connected at one end to the inner end of the rod and seating at the other end in said spring-receiving socket, and an upthrustresisting spring connected at its laterally outer end to each rod and disposed at its laterally inner end over the laterally outwardly facing tapered part of the associated bracket and seating in the spiral-like seat of said bracket.

3. In a disk harrow of the type including a main frame and a pair of disk gangs connected at their inner ends with said frame for movement relative thereto about generally vertical axes into and out of angled working position, the improvement which comprises spring means for resisting upthrust at the outer ends of said gangs due to soil pressure against the disks, said spring means including a, spring rod pivotally connected at its outer end to each of said gangs and extending laterally inwardly therefrom, a pair of brackets adapted to be fixed to said frame, each of said last named brackets having an aperture adapted to receive the inner end of the associated spring rod, said apertured portion of each bracket including a laterally outwardly facing, generally tapered part having a spiral-like spring seat and a laterally inner tapered recessed. part forming a spring-receiving socket, the laterally inner end of the associated rod extending through the associated aperture, a cushioning spring disposed about the inner end of said rod and connected at one end to the inner end of the rod and seating at the other end in said springreceiving socket, and an upthrust-resisting spring connected at its laterally outer end to each rod and disposed at its laterally inner end over the laterally outwardly facing tapered part of the associated bracket and seating in the spiral-like seat of said bracket.

WILLIAM P. OEHLER. CHARLES H. YOUNGBERG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

, UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 22,333 White June 8, 1943 585,136 Todd June 22, 1897 1,140,940 Bales May 25, 1915 1,577,233 Hotto Mar. 16, 1926 2,320,015 Seaholm May 25, 1943 2,339,124 White Jan. 11, 1944 

